What color handlebar tape for this bike?
03-11-14, 01:38 PM
#1
High Plains Luddite
Thread Starter
What color handlebar tape for this bike?
I'm wondering if I can get even one person to answer with a color other than black.
Yeah, I know black makes the most sense and is always correct. But how about a dash of color on this otherwise blah-looking black and silver bike?
The frame has a slightly greenish tint to the silver and I'm really temped to try some green tape. Purple might work too, but is it too girly? Yellow? Dark blue? Bright red with matching bottle cages and tires? I like the current saddle, but it's torn, so that's a possible color change item too. Maybe brown and brown like the Brooks guys like to do?
Here are some pictures in different light. Sometimes this bike looks green and other times it's looks plain silver, such as next to the silver car.
Let the arguing begin!
Many thanks.
Yeah, I know black makes the most sense and is always correct. But how about a dash of color on this otherwise blah-looking black and silver bike?
The frame has a slightly greenish tint to the silver and I'm really temped to try some green tape. Purple might work too, but is it too girly? Yellow? Dark blue? Bright red with matching bottle cages and tires? I like the current saddle, but it's torn, so that's a possible color change item too. Maybe brown and brown like the Brooks guys like to do?
Here are some pictures in different light. Sometimes this bike looks green and other times it's looks plain silver, such as next to the silver car.
Let the arguing begin!
Many thanks.
03-11-14, 01:48 PM
#2
Casually Deliberate
Get one of these in the light blue and find bar tape to match. That would add a very subtle bit of color but wouldn't fight with any of the other colors currently on the bike. It's an excellent saddle as well. I'm probably buying the Ladle in black when I get the funds.
03-11-14, 01:56 PM
#3
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03-11-14, 02:02 PM
#4
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I've got a red frame that leans toward orange. I went with Lizard Skin's orange tape. While a clear violation of "The Rules" it looks cool. Of course I can't post it in the 41s 
03-11-14, 02:27 PM
#5
well hello there
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Not black or white.
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
03-11-14, 02:28 PM
#6
I got 99 problems....
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I'm afraid you are stuck with black on that bike.
03-11-14, 02:32 PM
#7
Senior Member
I can't see anything other than black on that bike. Maybe if you changed the saddle and bottle cages to a different color and went with tape to match, but... right now it has to be black.
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03-11-14, 02:33 PM
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Lavender.....
03-11-14, 03:31 PM
#10
Senior Member
I didn't even notice the blue in the lettering. So I amend my earlier comment: if you can find something like this which matches the blue...
...that would look good.
...that would look good.
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03-11-14, 03:57 PM
#11
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03-11-14, 04:00 PM
#12
High Plains Luddite
Thread Starter
Thanks guys! I appreciate y'all taking the time to comment.
Even though not a roadie myself - this will be my first summer on a road bike - I though splash tape was officially verboten in the 21st Century. Maybe I've just been lurking here for too long?
The Specialized lettering and other detail is purple, not blue. I had thought of something like this (just the tape, not the cages, etc.) to match the Specialized logo but it seems kind of overpowering and a bit feminine.
(image found via google)
I should probably just go with black and be safe, but I'm a little tired of always being safe. I drive a plain jane silver Honda Accord already, and I kinda don't want to ride the same kind of invisible vanilla bike, if that makes any sense at all.
I might try navy blue. Every LBS on the planet seems to carry it, and I can always change back to black if I get too many snarky comments about breaking The Rules as you seasoned roadies blow by me this spring as I try to get used to tight britches and some kind of foot restraint system - the latter something I have so far conveniently ignored.
Even though not a roadie myself - this will be my first summer on a road bike - I though splash tape was officially verboten in the 21st Century. Maybe I've just been lurking here for too long?
The Specialized lettering and other detail is purple, not blue. I had thought of something like this (just the tape, not the cages, etc.) to match the Specialized logo but it seems kind of overpowering and a bit feminine.
(image found via google)
I should probably just go with black and be safe, but I'm a little tired of always being safe. I drive a plain jane silver Honda Accord already, and I kinda don't want to ride the same kind of invisible vanilla bike, if that makes any sense at all.
I might try navy blue. Every LBS on the planet seems to carry it, and I can always change back to black if I get too many snarky comments about breaking The Rules as you seasoned roadies blow by me this spring as I try to get used to tight britches and some kind of foot restraint system - the latter something I have so far conveniently ignored.
03-11-14, 04:06 PM
#13
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Do it:
Deda Elementi Logo Road Handlebar Bar Tape Bishop Violet Purple | eBay
..or...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gold-Bike-Bi...item19d6c8ad8b
Deda Elementi Logo Road Handlebar Bar Tape Bishop Violet Purple | eBay
..or...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gold-Bike-Bi...item19d6c8ad8b
__________________
"The older you do get, the more rules they're gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin', man, L-I-V-I-N." - Wooderson
'14 carbon Synapse - '12 CAAD 10 5 - '99 Gary Fisher Big Sur
"The older you do get, the more rules they're gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin', man, L-I-V-I-N." - Wooderson
'14 carbon Synapse - '12 CAAD 10 5 - '99 Gary Fisher Big Sur
Last edited by dtrain; 03-11-14 at 04:09 PM.
03-11-14, 04:41 PM
#14
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03-11-14, 04:42 PM
#15
Senior Member
Huh. I didn't even know it was called splash tape. Learn something new every day.
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03-11-14, 05:54 PM
#17
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Thanks guys! I appreciate y'all taking the time to comment.
Even though not a roadie myself - this will be my first summer on a road bike - I though splash tape was officially verboten in the 21st Century. Maybe I've just been lurking here for too long?
The Specialized lettering and other detail is purple, not blue. I had thought of something like this (just the tape, not the cages, etc.) to match the Specialized logo but it seems kind of overpowering and a bit feminine.
(image found via google)
I should probably just go with black and be safe, but I'm a little tired of always being safe. I drive a plain jane silver Honda Accord already, and I kinda don't want to ride the same kind of invisible vanilla bike, if that makes any sense at all.
I might try navy blue. Every LBS on the planet seems to carry it, and I can always change back to black if I get too many snarky comments about breaking The Rules as you seasoned roadies blow by me this spring as I try to get used to tight britches and some kind of foot restraint system - the latter something I have so far conveniently ignored.
Even though not a roadie myself - this will be my first summer on a road bike - I though splash tape was officially verboten in the 21st Century. Maybe I've just been lurking here for too long?
The Specialized lettering and other detail is purple, not blue. I had thought of something like this (just the tape, not the cages, etc.) to match the Specialized logo but it seems kind of overpowering and a bit feminine.
(image found via google)
I should probably just go with black and be safe, but I'm a little tired of always being safe. I drive a plain jane silver Honda Accord already, and I kinda don't want to ride the same kind of invisible vanilla bike, if that makes any sense at all.
I might try navy blue. Every LBS on the planet seems to carry it, and I can always change back to black if I get too many snarky comments about breaking The Rules as you seasoned roadies blow by me this spring as I try to get used to tight britches and some kind of foot restraint system - the latter something I have so far conveniently ignored.
03-11-14, 07:46 PM
#18
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I'd do purple as well. However, if you consider purple to be "girly" you're probably not man enough to have purple tape.
Honestly, at most you're out $40.
Honestly, at most you're out $40.
03-11-14, 08:14 PM
#19
Casually Deliberate
If you're not going to go with the light blue Charge Spoon saddle and matching tape then I join the mob clamoring for purple all the way. Oh and you get big points for following the Rules regarding the correct number of bottle cages.
03-11-14, 08:17 PM
#20
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Get one of these in the light blue and find bar tape to match. That would add a very subtle bit of color but wouldn't fight with any of the other colors currently on the bike. It's an excellent saddle as well. I'm probably buying the Ladle in black when I get the funds.
This would be 100% perfect and anyone who suggests otherwise simply has no sense of aesthetics.
H
03-11-14, 08:29 PM
#22
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BTW, I know where you can get those rims powder coated to match the tape and recovered saddle. Problem is you would have to break the wheels down in advance, then rebuild them after. Still, it would look great. I am doing it on a Ti frame with yellow.
03-11-14, 09:59 PM
#23
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It's bartape fer crissakes. Buy a color that you think you might like and try it out. If you don't like it, change it. If you don't care about the rules, then let your personal taste be your guide.
Otherwise...mango and nothing but mango
Otherwise...mango and nothing but mango
03-12-14, 06:27 PM
#25
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